Greenbooks

ABSTRACT

A computer architecture that integrates desktop productivity applications with various visualization engines and various output engines allowing visualization, modification and formatting of the ultimate output from the application. Methods for accomplishing content visualization, editing and formatting in light of one or more printing option are also provided. Methods and apparatus are also provided for environmentally-friendly printing in booklet form.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/722,064, entitled VIRTUAL PRESS RUN, filed Mar. 11, 2010 which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/231,237, entitled VIRTUAL PRESS RUN, filed Aug. 4, 2009. This Application also claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/298,174, entitled AUTOMATED BOOKLET PRODUCTION TO REDUCE PAPER WASTE, filed Jan. 25, 2010 and, each of which are incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference thereto.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The invention relates to the field of content visualization, editing, formatting and printing. More specifically, the invention relates to computer architecture and user interface for providing a virtual press run thus achieving realistic document visualization and achieving a more robust set of editing and printing options.

2. Description of the Related Art

Electronic document production involves developing content, preparing a document layout and outputting the document, typically in the form of a print job. A number of computer applications provide the necessary tools to accomplish basic content preparation, but do not provide a user with the adequate resources to visualize, edit and format the content so that the visual preview of the document on a computer interface actually represents how a completed print job looks. Furthermore, existing publishing applications do not offer a user with adequate editing or formatting options for a print job.

Most content creation applications include a printing options interface and a print preview tool. However, the printing options interface does not adequately show the user how the selected options will affect the appearance and layout of the actual finished printed and optionally bound document. Likewise, the print preview tool oftentimes does not provide an acceptable representation of what the print job will actually look like. Present solutions to this problem include conducting multiple test runs or outsourcing document creation to a specialist, both of which are a waste of time and financial resources.

Furthermore, typical content production applications only offer a user a basic degree of customization for a print job. For example, common presentation creation applications allow a user to print multiple slides on a single page. However, these applications fall short when a user desires to vary how many slides are to appear on each page throughout the whole print job. Similarly, content creation applications do not provide a user with an easy way to rotate source media, change media size, or alter document folding options. In these situations the user is forced to choose between foregoing the desired degree of customization and creating multiple print jobs to achieve the desired goals.

Additionally, known printing systems and printing solutions do not provide users with adequate opportunity to print in an environmentally responsible fashion. From a printing perspective, being environmentally responsible is primarily about using less paper. Reducing paper can help companies in two ways: first and foremost, they can reduce their costs; secondly, they can leverage their initiative to save paper as an environmentally friendly activity that will impress customers and employees.

However, individuals that want to produce booklets must use sophisticated technology for manual page imposition and they must be skilled in the use and application of the technology. Also, in order to create printed booklets that are printed on both sides of the paper, and have a combination of different pages with different numbers of pages per sheet, imposed into a booklet requires skilled knowledge and extensive manipulation of the pages or document. Therefore, there is a need to develop a set of tools to automate the process of printing documents that will reduce the amount of paper used in an organization.

Finally, most known document production applications do not provide a robust user interfaces for visualization, formatting and editing print jobs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, the invention provides a computer architecture for integrating desktop productivity applications with various visualization engines and with various printer engines allowing robust visualization, modification and formatting of the ultimate output from the application. The invention also discloses methods for accomplishing robust visualization, modification and formatting in a computing environment.

The invention is implemented with a computer architecture having a publishing module to gather editing tools, visualizations engines, print enhancement tools, and printing capability protocols as well as editable and printable content from any number of content sources. The publishing module merges the various gathered data and presents a user with visualization, modification and formatting tools through a graphical user interface, such that the user can see precisely how the ultimate output will appear on one or more networked printers. In some embodiments of the invention, the publishing module updates the visualization of the print job as the user changes various printing options.

The invention also provides novel methods of gathering content, editing and visualization engines and printing protocols, merging them and providing a user with an improved visualization, modification and formatting interface for preparing a virtual press run of the ultimate output from the application.

In some embodiments of the invention, the publishing module is accessed through a gateway in a host content application. In the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, the gateway comprises an icon in the menu screen of the host application. According to these embodiments, the publishing module preferably provides a user with more customization options for a print job than the host application and provides the user with a more precise previewing interface for visualizing the print job than the host application.

In some embodiments of the invention, a publishing module is integrated within dedicated printer, a dedicated copier, a dedicated fax machine, dedicated scanner, or combination peripheral devices with one or more capability selected from among a group of capabilities selected from among printing, copying, faxing, and scanning.

In some embodiments of the invention, a set of tools is offered to users of a publishing system to automate the process of printing documents and reduce the amount of paper used in an organization. Some embodiments involve tools for implementing an enterprise-wide green printing solution for reducing paper use and for reducing the cost of printing documents. In some embodiments of the invention, an environmentally-friendly booklet making toolset is offered to a user of publishing and visualization system. In some embodiments of the invention, detailed reports and print status feedback is delivered to users in order to quantify environmental impact reduction or lack thereof. In some embodiments of the invention, the tools for environmentally conscious printing are available to external applications, such as web browsers. In some other embodiments of the invention, unique tools are offered to users that eliminate print waste that comes from users printing a print job and subsequently forgetting to retrieve it, only to print it again.

Some embodiments of the invention involve printing booklets instead of single sheets of paper in order to save paper and to produce a high-quality document. These embodiments give users the ability to create booklets in an automated workflow, without complex imposition. These embodiments save money and are environmentally friendly.

Specific details for various implementations of the invention are disclosed. Although a reader will understand that the objects and goals of the invention may be practiced by a wide variety of general computing environments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A illustrates a general computing environment upon which the publishing module operates according to some embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 1B illustrates an example of computer architecture with a publishing module for accomplishing a virtual press run according to the invention;

FIG. 1C illustrates a user-friendly graphical user interface (GUI) allowing a user to easily prepare a “what you see is what you get” virtual press run;

FIG. 2 illustrates a workflow for publishing content according to some embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 3A illustrates a word processing menu interface including an application gateway to an interface for the publishing module according to some embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 3B illustrates a word processing menu interface including a desktop gateway to an interface for the publishing module according to some embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 4A illustrates a sample presentation content source application for the creation of presentation slides;

FIG. 4B illustrates a conventional print options prompt for presenting the user with print options for a given printer according to the prior art;

FIG. 4C illustrates an example of a three page print job using the print options available to a user from the presentation content source application according to the prior art;

FIG. 4D illustrates an exemplary interface for print job layout customization according to some embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 4E illustrate sample layouts available to a user using the publishing module of the invention showing clear customization advantages over the prior art;

FIG. 5A illustrates an example of a graphical user interface for providing a virtual press run according to some embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 5B illustrates another example of a graphical user interface for providing a virtual press run according to some embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 5C illustrates a hybrid graphical user interface comprising a three-dimensional display as well as a two dimensional 2-up display, showing two pages of a print job according to some embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 5D illustrates a hybrid graphical user interface comprising a two dimensional 4-up display as well as a three-dimensional counterpart according to some embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates an illustrative workflow for implementing the virtual press run tools on a peripheral device according to some embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates an illustrative workflow for implementing a transferable print job session according to some embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates an illustrative workflow for implementing a transferable print job visualization session beginning on a client workstation and finished on a peripheral device according to some embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 9A illustrates a host application toolbar ribbon GUI offering a user environmentally-friendly publishing tools according to some embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 9B illustrates a host application toolbar ribbon offering a user environmentally-friendly publishing tools and an informational frame for reporting the environmental impact of choosing the Green Book option according to some embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 9C illustrates a workflow involved in automatic production of environmentally-friendly booklet print jobs with a dedicated publishing application according to some embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 9D illustrates a workflow involved in automatic production of environmentally-friendly booklet print jobs with a host application according to some embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 10A illustrates a graphical user interface (GUI) of a host publishing application for importing files, choosing editing options, viewing a virtual press run in real-time as options are chosen, and printing environmentally-friendly, cost-conscious booklet form print jobs;

FIG. 10B illustrates a representation of an exemplary slideshow file for importation into the host publishing application according to some embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 10C illustrates a representation of the host publishing application having slideshow files imported therein;

FIG. 10D illustrates representation of the host publishing application presenting a user with environmentally-friendly, cost-conscious booklet form print options according to some embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 10E illustrates an imposition template for printing a half-size landscape booklet according to some embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 10F illustrates a graphical representation of the cover page of a Green Book according to some embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 10G illustrates a graphical representation of the second and third page of a Green Book according to some embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 10H illustrates a graphical representation of the ninth and tenth page of a Green Book according to some embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 10I illustrates the back cover of the Green Book according to some embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 11 illustrates an imposition template for printing a half-size portrait booklet according to some embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 12A illustrates a representation of an exemplary slideshow file for importation into the host publishing application according to some embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 12B illustrates an imposition template for printing portrait-oriented, mini green book booklets according to some embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 12C illustrate representations of the Mini Green Book booklet with one-slide title page according to some embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 12D illustrate representations of the Mini Green Book booklet with two-slide inner pages according to some embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 12E illustrate representations of the Mini Green Book booklet with two-slide inner pages according to some embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 12F illustrate representations of the Mini Green Book booklet with two-slide inner pages according to some embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 12G illustrate representations of the Mini Green Book booklet with one-slide back page according to some embodiments of the invention;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a publishing module providing users with a virtual workspace to prepare, visualize, organize, edit, publish and print documents and other files. As used herein, the terms “module” and “applet” refer to any software or hardware processing component that is used to implement one or more of the disclosed functions of the invention. As used herein an “applet” comprises processing components that execute on a client computer, or on a server, i.e. a servlet. Furthermore, the invention also provides one or more host applications, upon which to interface the applet using one or more plugins. Some examples of host applications comprise Fiery® Production products, manufactured by Electronics For Imaging, Inc., located in Foster City, Calif.

FIG. 1A illustrates a general computing environment 199 upon which the publishing module 101 operates according to some embodiments of the invention. A publishing module 101 is configured to run on a host application 195. The publishing module 101 and the host application 195 are coupled to an input 198, a processor 196 and an output module 194. In some embodiments of the invention, the computing environment 199 is contained within a personal computer and the input 198 comprises a keyboard (not shown) and a mouse (not shown). Furthermore, in some other embodiments of the invention, the host application 195 and the publishing module 101 are connected over a computer network and/or across a server.

The processor 196 is further coupled to memory 197. In some other embodiments, the host application 195 and the processor 196 are directly coupled to memory 197.

Furthermore, the output module 194 is coupled to a graphical user interface (GUI) 193 presented to a user on a monitor (not shown). Finally, the output module 194 is preferably coupled to one or more printer 192.

FIG. 1A illustrates an exemplary computing environment 199. However, it will be readily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure that other suitable computing environment, now known or later developed, are similarly applicable.

The publishing module 101 of the invention gathers content files, viewing engines, editing engines, printer files, image enhancement applets, and printer capability protocols, among other data. The invention also allows a user to manipulate the content files in light of the gathered printer settings such that the user is able to visualize how a document looks like when it is printed. In those embodiments in which the publishing module 101 is coupled to memory, the publishing module is also configured to gather one or more template for providing a user with one or more user friendly editing/printing solution.

The publishing module 101 affords the user realistic print imaging, such that “what you see is what you get.” Accordingly, the publishing module 101 provides a significant advantage to print imaging available in the prior art.

FIG. 1B illustrates an example of computer architecture 100 taking advantage of the publishing module 101 according to the invention. The publishing module 101 is configured to input and output various files and viewing/printing protocols via a series of Application Programming Interface (API) calls. The publishing module 101 applies a workflow to the imported files to produce a dynamic visualization of a document that takes printing options into account as they are adjusted by the user. As such, the publishing module 101 allows the user to reformat the print job into a “what you see is what you get” virtual press run. The publishing module is further configured to send the formatted print job to a printer. The workflow is at least partially controlled by a user via a user interface 102. An example of a workflow is described below in the discussion of FIG. 2.

Referring still to FIG. 1B, the publishing module 101 is coupled with various content sources 103, 104, and 105. In some embodiments of the invention, the publishing module 101 is directly coupled with the content sources 103, 104, and 105. In some other embodiments of the invention, the publishing module 101 is remotely coupled to one or more of the content sources 103, 104, and 105 via a network.

In some embodiments of the invention content sources 103, 104, and 105 comprise Powerpoint® (.ppt) files, Word® (.doc) files, and Excel® (.xls) files, respectively, all available from a Microsoft® Office Suite product, produced by Microsoft® Corporation. According to these embodiments, the content source includes an API and the publishing module 101 may be accessed via one or more Plug-In supported by Microsoft® Office user interface via a custom button or icon through an API call. See “Office New User Experience: UI Style Guide for Solutions and Add-Ins” for more Information regarding Microsoft® customization and developer's tools. (Microsoft Corporation, Office New User Experience: UI Style Guide for Solutions and Add-Ins, http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx.)

Although Microsoft® Office Suite products are mentioned explicitly, here and throughout the disclosure, it will be readily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art with the benefit of this disclosure that any content source that can be imported could benefit equally from the publishing tools of the present invention. For example, in some other embodiments, content is gathered from an Adobe® product.

In some embodiments of the invention, a run-list database 107 is coupled with the publishing module 101. The run-list 107 database comprises an inventory of content source pages that are modified and placed on to sheets as instructed from the content source application. In some embodiments of the invention, the content sources 103, 104, and 105 are coupled to the publishing module 101 via one or more run-list database 107.

The publishing module 108 is further coupled to a view/edit module 113. In some embodiments of the invention, the view/edit module 113 is coupled to the publishing module 101 via an edit API 114. The view/edit module 113 is coupled to one or more engines for presenting a representation of the content files. For example, in some embodiments, the view/edit module 113 is coupled to a three-dimensional engine 117, a two-dimensional engine 118, a JavaScript engine, and/or a Flash engine 119. The view/edit module 113 allows a user to view and edit the content gathered from the content sources 103, 104, and 105 on the user interface 102. Preferably, the editing and viewing is performed in light of a set of gathered printer capabilities.

The publishing module 101 is also coupled to a printer capability/print job building module 108. The printer capability/print job building module 108 gathers various printing protocols and settings from one or more printer 112 and provides the user with the gathered printer options. Furthermore, various output modules 109, 110, 111 are coupled to the printer capability/print job building module 108 to perform certain print job processing functions. For example, in some embodiments, the output modules 109, 110 and 111 are configured to convert documents, flatten images and/or perform capability checking and fixing. In some embodiments of the invention, the printing options are gathered and communicated in a PostScript printing protocol.

In some embodiments of the invention, the output module 109 comprises a color space transform application. A color space transform converts the representation of a color from how it appears in the host application or in the publishing module GUI to how it looks when printed, based on the gathered printers' color capabilities. In some embodiments, the color space transform attempts to make the printed color look as similar as possible to the visualized color. These embodiments are particularly useful for corporate color branding applications, for example.

Furthermore, the publishing module 101 and the printer capability/print job building module 108 are configured to build print jobs for sending to the one or more printers 112. Preferably, print jobs are communicated to the printers using a technical print standard such as a Job Definition Format (JDF). For technical information regarding the JDF format please see “Layout Creator to Imposition ICS”. (http://www.cip4.org/documentarchive/documents/ICS-LayCrlmp-1.3.pdf)

In the presently preferred embodiment, the view/edit module 113 is also coupled to the printer capability/print job building module 108 via module 115. According to these embodiments, the publishing module 101 allows a user to preview, edit, and format various document printing/publishing options in light of gathered printer capabilities. As such, the user will be presented with a precise preview of what a print job will actually look like on any selected printer.

Although the computer architecture 100 of FIG. 1B is described in terms of a plurality of discreet processing modules, it will be readily apparent to those with ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure that one or more of the modules can be integrated into a single module or one or more multi-function modules (collectively referred to as “processing modules”).

As used herein the term “processing module” shall mean any software processing component, hardware processing component, or portion thereof that may be used to implement one or more of the processing functions.

Print Option Visualization

Some embodiments of the invention comprise a module for gathering the various editing, viewing protocols, printer options, content files, etc and merging them to provide a realistic view of how a print job appears in light of those options. However, after an initial preview of a print job with current printing options, a user may wish to alter how the job is printed.

According to known printing option interfaces, the user is typically given an opportunity to select new print options but without being able to precisely see how those options change the look of the final printed document. For example, when preparing a Microsoft® PowerPoint presentation, a user may desire to print in a booklet form. Known print previewing methods allow a user to see abstract images configured in booklet form, wherein the images are not representative of the actual content. These methods fall short by failing to show the user exactly how the actual output will look in booklet form.

Indeed, this shortcoming is not trivial. For instance, a user may desire an image to span across two pages such that a continuous image is visible when a booklet is opened to those pages. According to the prior art, a user is forced to make their best guess about the continuity of the two-part image across successive pages, select booklet printing, and print a test run. Assuming that the estimation was not perfect, the user is required to change the layout until the test run is perfect.

In light of the need for robust print previewing, the invention provides a user with a visualization tool that clearly shows how a change to one or more printing option affects the look of a print job. FIG. 1C illustrates user-friendly graphical user interface (GUI) allowing a user to easily prepare a “what you see is what you get,” virtual press run. FIG. 1C clearly illustrates how the invention operates to cure the defects of known art as illustrated in the prior example.

FIG. 1C illustrates a GUI showing a list 180 of presentation pages, a number of tool icons 181 and a visualization plane 189 for showing a virtual press run image of the source content. Among the tools 181 is a booklet icon 182 which allows a user to format their print job in a booklet form. On the right of the GUI are various booklet options 183. As shown, a user visualizes exactly how the print job looks in booklet form, ensuring a user that an image spanning across two pages is a continuous image when the printed booklet is opened to those pages. As such, the visualization tools of the invention provide the user with a virtual press run.

What You See is What You Get

Many content source applications give a user some printing and page setup options providing merely a base level of customization for print jobs. However, various factors contribute to differences between what a user expects to be printed and the final product that is actually printed. For example, a printer may be capable of drilling or punching holes in a text document. According to this example, a user prepares a text document and selects this punching option. According to known print previewing and formatting methods, the user can visualize the plain text document without punch hole in a print preview, but may be surprised when the document is printed and a portion of the text is punched through.

However, according to the invention, the printer's capabilities, paper attributes and page layout attributes are each considered by the publishing module and merged with the editing and visualization engines to present the user with a virtual press run. Therefore, when a user selects a particular print option, they are presented with an accurate representation of how the print job looks. Using the above example, when the user selects a punch option, the preview visualization tool may show the text being partially punched. As such, the user may move the text or forego the punching options to cure the defect before actually printing.

In the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, the processing modules described above provide a wide variety of instant feedback to a user via the visualization tools. In another illustrative example, pluralities of publishing tools are offered to a user via a GUI. For example, a stapling function allows a user to define a desired stapling location in a finishing operation for a print job. According to this example, an icon of a stapler can be provided in the GUI to access the stapling options. In some embodiments, instant feedback is given to a user upon rolling over the stapler icon with a mouse pointer in the form of a staple appearing in a default position or a custom position within a visualization panel.

Although hole-punching and stapling visualization options are disclosed explicitly herein, it will be readily apparent to those with ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure that a wide variety of visualization options are equally applicable including those now known or later developed.

In this sense, the invention truly delivers a “what you see is what you get” preview of a print job. Accordingly, the user does not have to print a test run of a print job, as the publishing module has already presented the user with a truly representative virtual press run.

Workflow

The network architecture of FIG. 1B provides publishing tools for a wide variety of applications and in a wide variety of printing and imaging environments. FIG. 2 illustrates a workflow for publishing content according to some embodiments of the invention.

The workflow 200 begins with Setup step 201. Setup step 201 comprises installation and configuration of the applet. In some embodiments, the applet is specifically configured to be compatible with a certain host application, i.e. Microsoft® Office. Once the setup step 201 is complete, the workflow 200 continues when a user initiates a session at step 202. In some embodiments of the invention, a session is initiated through the host application. For example, when configured for Microsoft® Office, a session is initiated through a button or tab in the Microsoft® Office interface, as illustrated in FIG. 3A. In some other embodiments, a session is initiated by right-clicking an icon of a content file on a computer desktop, as illustrated in FIG. 3B.

The workflow 200 continues as the applet gathers content at step 203 from one or more host application or other content source, gathers edit/view protocols at step 204, and gathers printing protocols at step 205. In some embodiments of the invention, the printing protocols are communicated as a PostScript file.

After the various information is gathered at steps 203, 204, and 205, the workflow 200 continues by merging the gathered content and protocol information at step 206. Preferably a publishing module merges the gathered content and protocols and allows a user to access and interact with the content in light of the gathered view/edit protocols and printer capabilities.

After the merging step 206 the user previews and/or edits the content at step 207. Likewise, at step 208, the user selects printing options in light of the gathered printer protocols. Once the printer options are selected, the content may look different than prior to a printer preference change. As such, the user may chose to edit the content again at step 209. After step 209, the image of the content on a computer screen is precisely how the image appears from a printer.

Finally, at step 210 the content is printed on one or more printers such that the images are printed precisely how they appeared within the applet GUI. In some embodiments of the invention the reformatted document/image is cached and saved for later use. In some embodiments of the invention, a cached reformatted file can be used as a template for future content formatting tasks.

Host Application Gateway/Desktop Gateway

A user accesses the publishing module of the invention and initiates a workflow through a gateway. As used herein, the term “gateway” refers to an interface which passes both control status and page description language information to the publishing module.

As explained above, according to some embodiments, a user initiates the workflow 200 by clicking an icon or button in the interface of a host application. FIG. 3A illustrates a word processing menu interface 300 including a gateway 301 to an interface for the publishing module. As shown the gateway 301 is a menu button. By pressing the menu button, a user initiates the publishing applet and exports the word processing content from the host application to the applet interface. The applet also imports editing and viewing protocols as well as printing capabilities. Once the various files and data are imported, the publishing applet applies one or more workflow to edit, reformat and preview the content. After the user is satisfied with the reformatting, the content can be printed.

FIG. 3B illustrates a desktop gateway option of initiating a formatting and visualization applet according to some embodiments of the invention. A representation of a desktop icon 399 for a word processing file is shown with a corresponding list of options prompted by right-clicking the icon 399 with a mouse or similar pointer. Among the list 398 is an Open With Fiery command 397. By choosing the Open With Fiery command 397, a user initiates the publishing applet and exports the word processing content from the host application to the applet interface.

Layout Customization

The invention also provides a more robust viewing, editing, and formatting environment for document publication. Merging content with the gathered editing/viewing protocols and the gathered printer capabilities with the publishing applet allows a user to take full advantage of the printers' capabilities.

In some embodiments, the processing modules described above automatically separate ingested files, images, slides, etc. (collectively referred to as “files”) into meaningful groups based on the native file's file description or associated metadata. For example, in some embodiments of the invention, PDF files are separated into meaningful sections based on the PDF's table of contents. In some other embodiments of the invention, the slides of a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation are separated into meaningful sections based on similar title headings. In some embodiments of the invention, Microsoft Excel charts are separated using sheet identifiers. In some embodiments, word processing files are separated into meaningful sections based on page breaks.

In some embodiments, the processing modules force files from separate sections into separate pages in a finished print job. For example, in a print job having multiple pages per sheet of paper, i.e. 2-Up, 4-Up, etc., files with different sections will not be placed on the same sheet as another section. In some other embodiments of the invention, tabs are automatically inserted into a finished file based on the sections described herein.

In some embodiments, the invention gathers whether tab stocks are currently programmed into the print engine. According to these embodiments, the visualization tools allow a user to navigate to the separate sections of merged file by clicking the virtual representation of the tab ears.

In some embodiments, the invention gathers printer capabilities from one or more printer to provide a user with a more robust viewing, editing, and formatting environment for document publication. For example, in some embodiments of the invention, a group of printers networked to a user's computer may have more print options available to a user than the host application is enabled to take advantage of. According to the invention, the printing capabilities of the publishing applet are superior to those of the host program. Indeed, these options may be taken advantage of through the publication applet interface, whereas they would not have been previously available through use of the hose program alone.

For example, FIGS. 4A-4E provides illustrative examples of how the publishing applet of the invention enhances a user experience. FIG. 4A illustrates a sample presentation content source application 400 for the creation of presentation slides. According to this example, a user creates a set of presentation slides with the application 400 that includes a title slide 499 and content slides 401, 402, . . . n. The user may chose to print the presentation using the content source application 400 after the presentation slides are created.

FIG. 4B illustrates a typical print options prompt 410 available through a sample application showing print options for a given printer to a user. As shown, the print options prompt 410 gives a user the option to print more than one slide per page using a Handout pull-down menu 411 and radio buttons 412. Also, a finishing button 413 is included giving a user the option of two-sided printing.

FIG. 4C illustrates an example of a three page print job 420 using print options available to a user from the presentation content source application 400. As shown, the user can to print multiple slides per page, as presented to the user via the print options prompt 410. Specifically, the print job 420 is in a 4-Up configuration, meaning four slides per page.

However, oftentimes the content source application. 400 falls below a user's expectations in terms of printing customization. For example, a user may instead wish to print the title slide 499 on its own page before putting content slides 401, 402, 403, 404, 405, 406, 407, . . . n in a 4-UP configuration. Using the publishing tools of invention, a user can customize the layout of the print job.

FIG. 4D illustrates an exemplary interface 430 for print job layout customization according to some embodiments of the invention. According to these embodiments, a user initiates the customization session via a gateway in a content creation application, as explained in discussing FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B. Using the various formatting tools, a user can customize a print job in light of printer capabilities gathered from the networked printers.

FIG. 4E illustrates sample layouts available to a user using the publishing module of the invention showing clear customization advantages over the prior art. According to some embodiments of the invention, these layouts are made possible by referencing a run-list database, pulling source content from the database, and placing it on sheets as desired by the user.

Referring still to FIG. 4E, layout 440 shows a layout with the title slide on its own page 1 and content slides in a 4-up format on subsequent pages 2 and 3. Layout 450 shows a layout with a title slide on its own page 1 and content slides in a 4-up format on the front and back of subsequent page 2. Layout 460 shows a layout with a title slide on its own page 1, content slides 1-4 in a 4-up configuration on page 2, content slide 5 on its own page 3 and content slides 6, 7, . . . n on subsequent page 4 in a 4-up format. Although these particular layouts are shown explicitly, it will be readily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art having benefit of this disclosure that a wide variety of alternative configurations.

Graphical User Interface

As explained above, the invention provides a user-friendly interface allowing you to easily prepare a “what you see is what you get” virtual press run. FIGS. 5A-5D illustrate other examples of a graphical user interface (GUI) and show how changing various print options result in a dynamic/realistic view of how the print job appears when actually printed.

FIG. 5A shows one example of a GUI for providing a virtual press run according to some embodiments of the invention. As shown, the GUI presents a two-dimensional layout scheme to a user. Various tools are also presented to the user for editing, formatting, importing/exporting, and print option editing, among other tools.

FIG. 5B illustrates another example of a GUI according to some embodiments. FIG. 5B illustrates three-dimensional layout scheme. FIG. 5C illustrates a hybrid interface comprising a three-dimensional display as well as a two dimensional 2-up display, showing two pages of a print job. According to these embodiments, changes made to either display are reflected on the other. Finally, FIG. 5D illustrates a similar display having a 4-up display as well as three-dimensional counterpart.

In some embodiments of the invention, pluralities of viewpoints are offered to a user of the finished document. In some embodiments, a separate, small window viewpoint is displayed within a finished view for allowing a user to modify the file while viewing how a change the overall look of the file. For example, a small viewpoint is offered when a user clicks a tab ear—allowing a user to enter text into the tab ears while still showing the full, finished view in a second viewpoint. Preferably, both viewpoints are live, meaning that that text entered in the first viewpoint is showed in the second as it is typed.

The various GUI arraignments of the invention afford a user easy editing and visualization, and allow a user to get a better feel of how a print job actually appears once printed.

It will be readily apparent to those with ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure that, while various examples of a GUI are presented explicitly herein, a wide variety of similar GUIs can be used to accomplish similar aspects of the invention.

FIGS. 1A-5D illustrates general implementations of the invention. In the following paragraphs, a more specific implementation example is described for carrying out the invention. It will be readily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure that a wide variety of other implementations are equally applicable.

Implementation on Peripheral Devices

In some embodiments of the invention, the processing modules are implemented into one or more peripheral device. For example, in some embodiments of the invention, the publishing module is integrated within dedicated printer, a dedicated copier, a dedicated fax machine, a dedicated scanner, or combination peripheral devices with one or more capability selected from among a group of capabilities selected from among printing, copying, faxing, and scanning.

In some embodiments, the one or more of the publishing, editing, visualization, or other processing modules are embodied within a peripheral device with scanning and copying functions. In some embodiments, the device scans one or more document set into a publishing workspace and provides a user with tools to assemble pages, adjust the pages, adjust the page order, adjust the page dimensions, adjust the color, adjust the contrast, define the number of copies desired for printing, etc., all within a GUI on the device's display.

FIG. 6 illustrates an illustrative workflow 600 for implementing the virtual press run tools on a peripheral device according to some embodiments of the invention. Although a specific workflow is described herein for a particular implementation, it will be readily apparent to those with ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure that a number of workflow are possible to carry out the invention on peripheral devices whether currently known or later developed.

The workflow of FIG. 6 illustrates an illustrative workflow 600 for implementing the virtual press run tools on a copier according to some embodiments of the invention. According to FIG. 6, the workflow 600 begins with a user placing one or more document stack into a feeder of a copier 601. If user wants simple copy functionality, the user presses the copy button, the stack(s) are copied 602 and the workflow 600 ends. However, if the user wants to initiate a virtual press run, as described above, the user presses a visual assembly button 603 and continues to assembly, edit, format, review, visualize, etc. the document. Next, each page of the document stack is sequentially scanned and stored digitally internal to the copier 604. A visual representation of the document stack is then displayed on a GUI in the display of the copier 605. Preferably, all of the available publishing options explained above (i.e. simplex, N-up, staple, bind, hole-punching, etc.) as well as typical copier controls (i.e. lighter/dark, contrast, sharpness, background adjustment, color saturation, hue shift, etc.) are displayed in the GUI.

Next, the user selects/adjusts controls to get the document to the desired appearance 606 and presses a ‘print’ button 607. Finally, the saved document digital scans are processed according to user preference according to the selected preferences, and a final print job is printed, bound and delivered to the user 608.

In some other embodiments of the invention, print jobs are transported between peripheral devices or between peripheral devices and a client computer. According to these embodiments, the print job is created or scanned at a first device or computer, altered on at least a second device or computer and subsequently delivered to the user. FIG. 7 illustrates an illustrative workflow 700 for implementing a transferable print job visualization session according to some embodiments of the invention.

The workflow of FIG. 7 illustrates an illustrative workflow 700 for involving transferable print job visualization session according to some embodiments of the invention. According to FIG. 6, the workflow 700 begins with a user placing one or more document stack into a feeder of a copier 601. If user wants simple copy functionality, the user presses the copy button, the stack(s) are copied 702 and the workflow 700 ends. Multiple stacks can be required when the document feeder limitations (number of pages) are exceeded by the users document.

However, if the user wants to initiate a virtual press run, as described above, the user presses a visual assembly button 703 and continues to assembly, edit, format, review, visualize, etc. the document. Next, each page of the document stack is sequentially scanned and stored digitally internal to the copier 704. A visual representation of the document stack is then displayed on a GUI in the display of the copier 705. Preferably, all of the available publishing options explained above (i.e. simplex, N-up, staple, bind, hole-punching, etc.) as well as typical copier controls (i.e. lighter/dark, contrast, sharpness, background adjustment, color saturation, hue shift, etc.) are displayed in the GUI.

Next, the user forwards the job to their client workstation by sending the stored digital page representations and current formatting/adjustments in a format the client can display using the copier's visualization application 707. Next, the user continues to adjust, format and potentially merge additional source material into the job on the client workstation 708. Finally, when the user is satisfied, the can select print from the client workstation for the job to be sent to the printer 709 and the workflow ends.

In some other embodiments of the invention, the user can start from a virtual press run visualization session on their client workstation and finished on a peripheral device. According to these embodiments, different documents are collected and formatted as desired on a client workstation, wherein the documents include hardcopy pages to be included in the final formatted document set. However, according to these embodiments, rather than requiring these pages be scanned and sent back to the client workstation, the final assembly can be done at the copier. FIG. 8 illustrates an illustrative workflow 800 for implementing a transferable print job visualization session beginning on a client workstation and finished on a peripheral device according to some embodiments of the invention.

The workflow 800 of FIG. 8 begins with a user creating or accessing a file or group of files and editing and visualizing the files using a virtual press run application 801. Next, the user sends formatted jobs to the peripheral device's “hold” queue 802. The user then manually places additional documents into the feeder of the peripheral device 803. Next, the user selects a visual assembly, thereby causing the peripheral device to scan the additional documents 803. The scanned pages are displayed in the display of the peripheral device 804. Next, the user opens the “hold” queue document and the two documents are merged 805 in the same way that separate documents are merged on the client workstation. The user selects/adjusts controls to get the document to the desired appearance 806. Finally, a user then presses “print” and the merged document digital scans and original “hold queue” pages are processed according to user preference printed, optionally bound, optionally punched, and delivered to the user 807.

Specific Implementation Example

In the following example and explanation, an applet resides in Microsoft Office® applications. The applet directs users to a wizard workflow which guides them through choices or evokes virtual printer applications. The applet is referred to as the “Fiery MS Office Applet” or a “Rave Applet” and is designed to run on a Fiery® product host application, manufactured by Electronics for Imaging Inc., Foster City, Calif. It will be readily apparent to those with ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure, that one or more similar applet could be used on a wide variety of host applications in a similar fashion, yielding similar results.

Installation

When Installing the Fiery MS Office Applet, user chooses which Workflow Wizards to install.

Registration of Fiery and User

The first time the Fiery MS Office Applet is launched, it checks to see if the applet is a registered Fiery® product. If it is not, the applet invokes an Automatic Fiery Discover subroutine and presents the user with a list of Fiery® products to choose from. When the user chooses a Fiery® product, the user is asked to fill out user information. The user information is transmitted to an EFI registration server, along with information about which Fiery® product was selected.

Once the Fiery is registered, the Fiery MS Office Applet identifies consumable content and finishing capabilities through bi-directional communication as explained above. The user subsequently can rediscover and change his Fiery® product selection. In these cases, the user is asked to register again the first time after he connects to another Fiery® product. If no Fiery® product is found on the system, the user is informed that the applet is to run in demo mode. A dummy Fiery® product is used that includes a “To Be Determined” tab, paper options, and finishing features. When the user submits their choices they are prompted to contact his copier sales representative to purchase a Fiery-driven MFP solution product. The software is also capable of installing customized messages.

Upgrades

A registered Rave applet checks the EFI upgrade server every time it is launched and checks for upgrades. If an upgrade is available, the server prompts the user to download and install the upgrade. After the upgrade is installed, the applet re-launches with the print job data previously selected.

Import from MS Office

In some embodiments or the invention, the Rave applets are launched from a Fiery Button or a Fiery Tab within Microsoft® Office Products, as explained above in FIG. 3A. Such third party plug-ins are supported in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publish and Outlook. The users may also right-click a document file and choose Fiery Publish to open the document for visualizing, formatting, and printing, as explained above in FIG. 3B.

Preference Settings

In some embodiments, the Rave Applet is configured to accommodate various preferences setting. Selected settings include, but are not limited to:

-   -   Paper Setting Preferences     -   Paper Sizes, i.e. Letter, Legal, Tabloid, A3, A4, A5, etc.,     -   Page properties, i.e. Single-side vs. two-side printing, N-up,         etc.,

Desktop Personalization

In some embodiments, the Applet is further configured to provide application personalization including: Desktop texture, personalized desk photos, and Custom Icon display, among other choices. In the case, of the custom icon display, the user chooses what Icons to display and what kind of Icon, i.e. button icons or objects like a stapler, a hole punch, etc.

Job Status Monitoring

In some embodiments, the Fiery publishing applet is further configured to show Fiery status graphically. For example, when the user rolls over the graphic with a mouse the applet shows a specific status message. The applet is also configured to install a desktop tray icon that will pop up a message if the job fails to print, along with the reason, i.e. out of paper, out of toner, etc.

Source File Content Changes

In some embodiments of the invention, the Rave applets only prepare 1-time print layout configurations and do not modify the source files. In some other embodiments, the Photo Enhancement applet, which, when invoked directly from the Microsoft® Office, push the corrected photos back into the source file.

Saved Data

In some embodiments of the invention, the Fiery Publish applet can save templates, but it does not permanently save a print session. If the user needs to reprint a job they must recreate it, possibly using a template to save effort. In some other embodiments, the Applet automatically saves the templates of the last N print jobs, identified by the document name. This is the scenario where a user can run back and quickly print the last job if a few more copies are needed.

Office Personalization Applet

In some embodiments of the invention, the Office Personalization Applet can be used as a separate application or as a subset to the Fiery Publish and Go To Meeting Applets. The Office Personalization Applet allows users to create simple jobs with variable data. As a standalone application, the user is prompted for the type of file to be output; business cards, photos, tent cards, badges etc. and then ask for the source file; Excel, Word or Outlook.

The Office Personalization Applet uses Avery® Labels as output templates. Once the layout options and the source content have been chosen, the user is guided to link the source file information to the layout with a simple, interactive workflow. The Office Personalization Applet also offers the ability to create covers and tabs with variable data as part of either the standalone application or as a subset of the other applications. It is desirable to offer a capability that allows the use of simple graphics and images as variable data.

Business Cards

In some embodiments of the invention, the user sees a business card layout, and using the Office Personalization Applet workflow, has the option to see one business card at a time, or the entire sheet. The user is then prompted to assign location of the variable data on the business cards using the workflow. This Applet uses Avery® Label templates/media for the creation of these prints.

Personalized Meeting Collateral

Some embodiments of the invention comprise a Go To Meeting workflow. According to these embodiments, the user can create ID Badges, Tent Cards, etc. to be included in meeting printouts. In some embodiments, the Applet uses Avery® Label templates/media for the creation of these prints.

Post Cards

Some embodiments of the invention comprise a post card template. Much like the Business card capability, the user can work on individual Post Cards or a sheet of Post Cards to assign personalized data. This Applet uses Avery Label templates/media for the creation of these prints.

Personalized Booklet Covers and Tab Fronts

In some embodiments of the invention, users can assign variable data to document covers and the fronts of tabs as a standalone application or as a subset of the Fiery® Publish and Go To Meeting Applets.

MS Office Mail Merge

In some embodiments of the invention, various mail templates are merged with Microsoft Office content to create mail products. The following are examples of this aspect of the invention:

-   -   Labels: Much like the Business card capability the user can work         on individual labels or a sheet of labels to assign personalized         data. This Applet uses Avery® Label templates/media for the         creation of these prints.     -   Envelopes: Users can print individualized envelopes using         interactive templates of standard envelopes sizes and styles.     -   Letters: Users can assign variable data to a template/background         that can be used in letters. This is not intended to use         variable data inside the content of the letter, and is intended         to allow the simple creation and use of corporate letterhead         that can be printed on demand and leveraging variable data for         names, addresses and graphics.

PowerPoint (Master/Content)

In some embodiments, advantages of Microsoft® PowerPoint are optimized by identifying slide backgrounds as “Masters” and slide foregrounds as “Content.” Offer personalization of PowerPoint meeting notes. In the preferred embodiment, this is configuration choice and is handled automatically by caching reoccurring images and reusing the cached image when applicable.

Color Branding Template Wizard

Some embodiments of the invention ensure that corporate branding colors are matched as closely as possible using a color space transform, as explained above. These embodiments are particularly useful when using Microsoft® Office applications.

In some embodiments of the invention, a Color Branding Template Wizard is offered to a user. Ideally, the Color Branding Template Wizard is an interactive tool that allows users to select colors in the thumbnails of a document with an “eyedropper” tool; and the assign spot and/or Pantone colors for output. Once colors have been identified and assigned, Fiery interprets and outputs the appropriate spot and/or Pantone color. The user is given the option to swap the color selected throughout the entire document or only on that specific page.

In other embodiments of the invention, a similar approach is used to create a standard template to be used in the Microsoft® Office applications by using Encapsulated PostScript as a way to lock the Spot and/or Pantone color in the EPS files that are then printed properly through the Fiery.

Fiery Publish Applet

In some embodiments, the Fiery Publish Applet is a 3D layout tool that permits the user to specify the layout of documents. In some embodiments, the user uses thumbnails of the actual pages to create a “what you see is what you get” picture of the actual output.

Requirements include:

-   -   The ability to step through the entire document, page by page.     -   The ability to use drop and drag mouse techniques to re-order         the pages. These order changes are only for printing purposes;         the page order in the original document is unaffected.     -   Covers and tab sheets can be inserted throughout the document.     -   Tabs can be written via a simple text box that allows a limited         number of characters and simple font selection and settings.     -   Tabs can also leverage the Personalization Applet to include         variable data on the face of the tab including subject, project,         etc.     -   Specific media selections can be made (colored sheets).     -   The layout work session can be saved and recalled later, as long         as the original Office document has not been modified. Data         saved in the session includes the original PDF generated from         the Office Application, thumbnail bitmaps, basic layout template         used, and any data reflecting layout exceptions (modifications).     -   Multiple documents (from an Office perspective) may be combined         together into a single print job. The order of the documents may         be changed and the order of individual pages within each         document may be changed, but pages from each source document may         not be shuffled together, across document lines. The combined         documents are treated as a single print job within the Applet.     -   Multiple layout templates are available in the Applet. These are         to be specified in a standard format within a text file. The         intent is to read these templates so that the capabilities of         the product are extended by adding more templates, not by         re-coding the application. Examples of templates include         booklet, 2-up simplex, 4-up, 2-up duplex, etc.     -   According to some embodiments, only one copy of the applet runs         at a time. If a second is sent to the applet, the first document         session is saved for recall. The saved session remains         recallable until the original document is modified. If it has         been modified, a new PDF document must be generated and the         document session restarted in the applet. In some embodiments,         multiple document sessions have multiple Tabs in the applet or         multiple instantiations of the applet for each document.     -   Finishing options are displayed in the Applet as visually as         possible. Hole punch locations, images of binding options and         other finishing options are displayed in the layout. These         options are modified wherever possible by using drop and drag         techniques.     -   Available finishing options are constrained by the options on         the Fierys that are in the user's network. These options should         be cached so that the Applet does not have to do Fiery discovery         every time the Applet is started.     -   In some embodiments, if the Applet is running, files can be         opened (and the currently opened file saved as a session, if         desired) by dragging them from Windows explorer into the Applet.     -   In some embodiments, the Applet can be started as a standalone         application, without first opening the Office application.     -   The Applet can be started by right-clicking on an Office file in         a Windows Explorer window.     -   At the user's option the Applet can communicate back to the         Office Application and reposition the document on a particular         page. This is to assist in making corrections to the document.         In these conditions, the Applet ends the session with the         particular document.     -   The user has the option to save the layout that he has created         as a new template for later use in another session.     -   At the end of the session, the user can request a print. The         number of copies can be specified in the UI (default is 1). The         resulting output is a PDF document with the logical document         pages imposed on larger sheets and a <JDF/Fticket> job ticket         for specific finishing options to be relayed to the Fiery.     -   Constraints based on the currently selected Fiery are used to         limit choices in the Applet.     -   The resulting PDF file that is sent to the Fiery will be         encrypted with a key derived from data embedded in the         accompanying job ticket.

Tab/Blank Page Insertion

In some embodiments of the invention, tab and blank page insertion is done through a drop and drag mechanism. According to these embodiments, there is an icon on the desktop in the shape of a tab page. Rolling over the icon results in a brief pop-up of the available tab types. The user can grab one with the mouse and drag it to the layout page, where it is inserted.

The software automatically determines the number of tabs that are in use in the document and create a tab of the appropriate size and location on the tab sheet. One of the options of the tab icon is a blank page that does not have a tab. There is also a choice to automatically place tabs based on MS Word chapters and/or sections.

Page Re-Order

In some embodiments, page re-ordering is accomplished by dragging pages within the page thumbnail portion of the display. Multiple adjacent pages may be selected using the standard Windows shift-click and control-click mechanism. The selected pages can then be shifted en masse.

Pages can also be deleted from the print job by selecting and then pressing the delete key. The pages are deleted only from the final print job.

Binding

In some embodiments, document binding options are constrained by the Fiery that is currently selected. These are selectable from an icon that is displayed on the desktop. The user is shown graphic representations of the possible binding functions; spiral, perfect, etc. and then drags the graphic on top of the booklet to see how it would look with that type of binding.

Stapling

If stapling is available (based on the currently selected Fiery), a stapler icon is placed on the 3D desktop. Rolling over the stapler displays a brief pop-up of the stapling options available to the user. Clicking on the option results in a re-painting of the display to show how the document looks with the option.

If selecting stapling as an option invalidates a previously selected finishing option, then the previously selected option is removed from the display. If a conflict happens, the user is prompted with a message asking permission to change to new option and removing existing option.

Punching

If punching is available (based on the currently selected Fiery), a hole punch icon is placed on the 3D desktop. Rolling over the punch displays a brief pop-up of the punching options available to the user. Clicking on the option results in a re-painting of the display to show how the document looks with the option.

If selecting punch style as an option invalidates a previously selected finishing option, then the previously selected option is removed from the display. If a conflict happens, the user will be prompted with a message asking permission to change to new option and removing existing option.

Covers

In some embodiments, covers can be chosen from several sources including PDF files and from MS Office applications. The user has the option to store covers in a “Covers” folder from any of the MS Office applications. These covers are stored as PDF's created by the Microsoft PDF plugin.

Submitting to the Fiery

In some embodiments, the print jobs are submitted through Harmony calls to the Fiery Print Queue. If there is user authentication enabled on the Fiery, this authentication must be honored. If the user does not have permission to print to the Fiery a message is presented to the user.

Go to Meeting Applet

In some embodiments of the invention, a Go To Meeting Applet is used. The Go To Meeting Applet is an interactive Wizard utility that guides users through the kitting of meeting documents into a complete document that is ripped to one document and can be printed as one document. This Wizard is application dependant and assumes default print out from the MS Application that it is launched from. For example; PowerPoint users can choose the type of PowerPoint output; notes, handouts, etc. within the Wizard. In some embodiments, Go To Meeting applet requirements include:

-   -   “One Button” meeting document creator that works with all MS         Office and PDF files;     -   Includes document preview;     -   Controls PowerPoint function for producing handout files         including how many slide per page; and     -   Automatically accesses Booklet Wizard to finalize booklet making

Photo Enhancement Applet

In some embodiments, the applet uses sophisticated algorithms to adjust photos automatically to achieve optimum results for users without expert photo enhancement skills. Automatic Photo Enhancement Wizard can be used as a standalone wizard or as a toolset available in the Fiery Publish Applet. Within the Fiery Publish Applet, the Photo Enhancement Applet allows the user to adjust single images one at a time, all of the images in the booklet at once or a specific set of images chosen by the user.

The Applet can also be invoked independently to automatically correct all the images within a selected document. In this instance, the corrected images are re-inserted into the source document. This saves the user from having to re-work the images each time they are printed.

According to these embodiments, the final workflow scenario that is supported appears to the user when a document is opened in the Fiery Publish or Go-to-Meeting Applet. Prior to opening the document in the layout editor, the user can correct the images in the document. In this case, the corrected images are re-inserted into the source document prior to conversion to PDF.

Automatic Adjustments

In some embodiments, a Photo Enhancement Wizard automatically adjusts most common image file formats including raw image files, TIFF, JPG, BMP and PNG with the following capabilities:

-   -   Automatic Balance     -   Remove Blue Cast     -   Remove Red Eye     -   Adjust Mid-tones     -   Enhance Colors     -   Enhance Details     -   Remove Hot Pixels     -   De-noise the image

Manual Adjustments

In some embodiments, users can make manual adjustment to single images, all of the images or a select set of images with the following tools:

-   -   Lossless Rotation;     -   Portrait De-Focus and/or enhancement Filter; and     -   Resize image using high quality filter.

GUI Look, Feel and Behavior

This section describes the behavior and requirements of the GUI:

-   -   The Applet preflights the document to determine if non-synthetic         images are present. If none of the images are “natural”, i.e.         photographs, no processing occurs.     -   All non-synthetic images are extracted and automatically         corrected. The resulting corrected images are displayed in         thumbnail form for the user. Multiple page display are used to         prevent the thumbnails from being displayed at too small a size         to be useful.     -   Once all the images are corrected and displayed, the user can         navigate through multiple pages of the thumbnail display.     -   Double-clicking or right-click or single-click and selection         from a pull down menu results in a new display that allows the         user to make adjustments to an individual image.     -   When an individual image is singled out, it is re-displayed in a         new 9-up layout. The center image is the corrected image. The         image directly to the left represents the image with a minus         correction in one of the correction criteria. The image directly         to the right represents the image with a “plus” correction in         the same correction criteria as on the left. The image directly         above the center image represents the image with a “minus”         correction in other correction criteria. The image directly         below the center image is the image with a plus correction in         the same correction criteria as the image above the center         image. The four corner images show the image as it would appear         if corrected by the criteria of its two nearest neighboring         images.     -   The center image may be selected for larger, more detailed         display and potential correction. In this case, the image is         displayed by itself and at a larger size. This permits         operations such as manual re-eye correction or the other         actions.     -   In this display mode, the user can drag one of the eight         surrounding images into the center of the display. At this         point, the selected copy of the image are then be displayed in         9-up and the eight surrounding image versions are based on this         newly selected image.     -   The user can undo his selections until the original (the image         that was in the original Office document) is displayed and can         be used to print (or be in the source document).     -   Once the user has seen an image that he is happy with, he can         select it and the previous thumbnail display of all the         document's images are displayed. If the thumbnail display is         multiple pages, then the user is placed back on the display page         he had been on when he chose to drill down to fix an individual         image.     -   Once happy with all the image corrections, the user can indicate         that he is done and the images are either be re-inserted into         the source document or corrected into the printable copy of the         PDF file sent to the Fiery.

Environmentally Friendly Print Solutions

In some embodiments of the invention, a set of tools are offered to users of a publishing system that achieve environmentally-friendly printing. The tools automate the process of printing documents and reduce the amount of paper used in an organization. Some embodiments of the invention involve tools for implementing an enterprise-wide green printing solution for reducing paper use and for reducing the cost of printing documents.

In the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, the environmentally-friendly printing tools comprise processing modules for automatically creating a booklet from printable content. These modules include modules for automatically imposing content into a specific order to accomplish booklet printing, modules for gathering printer capabilities, modules for merging printer capabilities with content, modules for using merged content to offer users a more robust and accurate print preview of the booklet. Preferably, the booklet printing is performed on a printer having a finisher that automatically folds collated print jobs into a booklet. In some embodiments, a stack of collated paper is printed according to a booklet imposition, but requires the user to fold the booklet themselves. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the processing modules support mixed page size and mixed stock.

For example, the publishing module 101 contained in the exemplary network architecture of FIG. 1B can include the environmentally-friendly publishing tools. Likewise, the exemplary workflow of FIG. 2 can include selecting environmentally-friendly print options at step 209.

In some embodiments of the invention, the environmentally-friendly print job options are accessible by selecting an environmentally-friendly print option in a host application's toolbar ribbon. In some embodiments of the invention, the environmentally-friendly print job options are accessible by choosing to open a file in a dedicated publishing application by clicking a “preview” button in a host application's toolbar ribbon. According to these embodiments, the host application is the primary application for creating a document, presentation, picture, or other printable file. Examples of host applications include word processing applications, slideshow creation applications, image and photo creation and editing applications, and PDF viewer applications. In some embodiments of the invention, the tools for environmentally conscious printing are available to external applications, such as web browsers.

In some other embodiments, a user directly pulls one or more files into a dedicated publishing application, wherein the publishing application offers the user with multiple environmentally-friendly file merging and print options.

FIG. 9A illustrates a host application toolbar ribbon offering a user environmentally-friendly publishing tools according to some embodiments of the invention. According to these embodiments, the host application is the primary application for creating a document, presentation, picture, or other printable file. Examples of host applications include word processing applications, slideshow creation applications, image and photo creation and editing applications, and PDF viewer applications.

According to FIG. 9A, the host application 900 is a slideshow creation application. The host application 900 includes a slideshow creator menu interface 909 including a gateway 903 to an interface for the publishing module. As shown the gateway 903 is a menu button. By pressing the menu button, a user initiates the publishing applet and exports the slideshow content from the host application to the applet interface. The applet also imports editing and viewing protocols as well as printing capabilities. Once the various files and data are imported, the publishing applet applies one or more workflow to edit, reformat and preview the content. After the user is satisfied with the reformatting, the content can be printed.

Also shown in FIG. 9A, the menu interface 909 also includes a “Green Books” printing tool 999 that automatically formats the current open slideshow into an imposition for environmentally-friendly, cost-conscious booklet form printing. The “Green Books” printing tool 999 provide the user with a quick, user-friendly method of taking their current open document and automatically producing a booklet that print either as a full size “green book” (2 letter/A4 pages per side printed 2-sided on Tabloid/A3 paper), half size “green book” (2 letter/A4 pages per side reduced to print 2-sided on letter/A4 paper), or “Mini green book” which will print the first and last pages as 2 pages per sheet on a letter/A4 page and the rest of the pages 4 pages per sheet on letter/A4 paper. These methods reduce paper usage by 50%, 75% and 85% respectively.

In some embodiments of the invention, detailed reports and print status feedback is delivered to users in order to quantify environmental impact reduction or lack thereof. For example, a host application with a toolbar ribbon for printing Green Books directly from the host application includes an informational frame for reporting the environmental impact of choosing the Green Book option. FIG. 9B illustrates a host application toolbar ribbon offering a user environmentally-friendly publishing tools and an informational frame for reporting the environmental impact of choosing the Green Book option according to some embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 9C illustrates a workflow involved in automatic production of environmentally-friendly booklet print jobs with a dedicated publishing application according to some embodiments of the invention.

The workflow 999 begins with a user initiating an environmentally friendly publishing session via a dedicated publishing application. FIG. 10A illustrates a graphical user interface (GUI) 1000 of a dedicated publishing application for importing files, choosing editing options, viewing a virtual press run in real-time as options are chosen, and printing environmentally-friendly, cost-conscious booklet form print jobs. Referring again to FIG. 9C, the workflow 999 continues with a user gathering content 997 by importing content into the publishing application.

The workflow 999 continues as the publishing application gathers printing protocols at step 996. In some embodiments of the invention, the printing protocols are communicated as a PostScript file.

After the various information is gathered at steps 997 and 996, the workflow 999 continues by merging the gathered content and the printer capabilities at step 995. Next, the publishing application presents users with tools for selecting environmentally-friendly printing options 994. Once the user selects the environmentally-friendly printing options, the method 999 automatically creates a printing imposition 993.

The publishing application presents users with tools for previewing and editing the print job according to the environmentally-friendly printing options and the automatically-created imposition 992.

At step 991 a print job is initiated to print an environmentally-friendly booklet according to the imposition. Printing includes the printer's finisher collating the print job according to the imposition 990 and folding the collated pages into a booklet form 989. Optionally, the booklet is bound. The printing steps occur such that the images are printed precisely how they appeared as previewed in step 992 within the publishing application graphical user interface.

FIG. 9D illustrates a workflow 987 involved in automatic production of “green books” beginning with content creation in a host application according to some embodiments of the invention. The workflow 987 begins with a user initiating an environmentally friendly publishing session via a host application as the user generates content 986 via the host application. The host application includes tools for providing environmentally-friendly printing options via the host application. The workflow 987 continues by presenting the options to the user 985.

The workflow 987 continues when the host application receives a printing instruction 984 from the user with an environmentally-friendly booklet print option indicated. Next, the host application calls a publishing module at step 983. The publishing module gathers printer capabilities from networked printers 982 and merges the content with the printer capabilities 981. Using the merged information, the publishing module automatically creates a print imposition 980 based on the selected environmentally-friendly print option and shares the imposition with the host application 979.

At step 978 the host application initiates a print job to print an environmentally-friendly booklet according to the imposition. Printing includes the printer's finisher collating the print job according to the imposition 977 and folding the collated pages into a booklet form 976. Optionally, the booklet is bound.

As explained above, in some embodiments of the invention, the “Green Books” printing tool 909 automatically formats a job in a host application and prints a booklet form of the print job while in some other embodiments of the invention, a dedicated publishing application is provided for importing files, choosing editing options, viewing a virtual press run in real-time as options are chosen, and printing environmentally-friendly, cost-conscious booklet form print jobs.

FIG. 10A illustrates a graphical user interface (GUI) 1000 of a dedicated publishing application for importing files, choosing editing options, viewing a virtual press run in real-time as options are chosen, and printing environmentally-friendly, cost-conscious booklet form print jobs. The GUI 1000 includes a ribbon menu 1001 with basic tools and pre-made templates, a button 1002 for importing files, and a side frame 1003 containing a plurality of publishing tools.

FIG. 10B illustrates a representation of an exemplary slideshow file for importation into the host publishing application. The slideshow consists of twelve landscape-oriented slideshow slides. FIG. 10C illustrates a representation of the host publishing application having the slideshow files of FIG. 10B imported therein. The side frame 1003 of the GUI 1000 includes a “Green Books” button 1009. The “Green Books” button offers a user with tools for automatically formatting files into booklet form. In the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, the host publishing application gathers printer capabilities and the “Green Books” button offers only those options available for the user's particular printing environment. For example, if the user's printing environment does not include a printer having the ability to fold a stack of printed paper, then the Green Book booklet options would be limited to full-size solutions.

FIG. 10D illustrates representation of the host publishing application presenting a user with environmentally-friendly, cost-conscious booklet form print options accessed via the “Green Books” button 1009. Using the “Green Books” button 1009, the imported files can be automatically formatted into full size, half size, or mini format booklets. Choosing one of the booklet form print options automatically places the imported filed into an imposition for booklet printing.

FIG. 10E illustrates an imposition template for printing a half-size landscape booklet according to some embodiments of the invention. For example, choosing “Green Book—Half Size” in FIG. 10D automatically imposes the twelve imported slide show pages into the imposition template shown in FIG. 10E. As shown, the imported files are imposed two per side, in landscape form separated by an x-axis, and on both side of each sheet.

Upon printing, Sheet 1 will be printed first and placed on the bottom of a stack. Sheet 2 is then printed and placed on top of sheet 1. Finally, Sheet 3 is printed and placed on top of the stack. The printer's finisher will then align the sheets and fold stack along the x-axis, thereby creating a booklet.

In the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, as soon as a user chooses a Green Book option, the graphical user interface (GUI) 1000 of a host publishing application displays a representation of the final booklet.

FIGS. 10F through 10I illustrates various pages of a representation of a Green book 1010 according to some embodiments of the invention. FIG. 10F illustrates a representation of the cover page of a Green Book 1010, which corresponds to the top half of the back side of the first sheet of the imposition shown in FIG. 10E.

The graphical user interface (GUI) 1000 of a host publishing application includes tools 1011 for navigating the representation of a Green book 1010. In some embodiments of the invention, the tools 1011 include an arrow for flipping the pages of the Green Book 1010. In the presently preferred embodiments, the tools cause the pages to flip in an animation that simulates the pages of a booklet actually being flipped open. FIG. 10G illustrates a representation of the second and third pages of the Green Book 1010 after the cover page of a Green Book 1010 is flipped open. FIG. 10 H illustrates the ninth and tenth page of the Green Book 1010 and FIG. 10I illustrates the back cover of the Green Book, which corresponds to the bottom half of the back side of the first sheet of the imposition shown in FIG. 10E.

FIG. 11 illustrates an imposition template for printing a half-size portrait booklet according to some embodiments of the invention. For example, choosing “Green Book—Half Size” in FIG. 10D automatically imposes a ten-page imported slide show into the imposition template shown in FIG. 11. The host publishing application uses this template to automatically print a portrait-oriented booklet.

A particularly environmentally-friendly and cost-conscious printing solution is the “Mini Green Book” booklet form. FIG. 12A illustrates a representation of an exemplary slideshow file for importation into the host publishing application. The slideshow consists of fourteen portrait-oriented slideshow slides. When these slides are imported into the host publishing application and a user chooses the “Mini Green Book” booklet form, the host publishing application imposes the imported slides into a template. FIG. 12B illustrates an imposition template for printing portrait-oriented, mini green book booklets according to some embodiments of the invention. The imposition template for printing portrait-oriented, mini green book booklets comprises landscape oriented sheets separated by a y-axis and an x-axis, thereby forming four quadrants on each side of each sheet.

In the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, the first and the last slide of the imported slides are imposed side-by-side on a landscape-oriented sheet, separated by a y-axis. The first and last slides are not imposed into quadrants like the remaining slides so that the title page and last page of the booklet is given more prominence.

The remaining slides are imposed into quadrants on the landscape-oriented sheet, separated by the y-axis and the x-axis on both the front and back of the remaining sheets. Upon printing, Sheet 1 will be printed first and placed on the bottom of a stack. Sheet 2 is then printed and placed on top of sheet 1. The printer's finisher will then align the sheets and fold stack along the y-axis, thereby creating a booklet. According to these embodiments, the fourteen-page slideshow of FIG. 12A is imposed onto a two-sheet template that, when printed, only requires two sheets of paper, as opposed to fourteen. Accordingly, the mini Green Book imposition technique accomplishes around 85% paper reduction.

As explained above, the graphical user interface (GUI) 1000 of a host publishing application includes tools 1011 for navigating the representation of a Green book 1010. In some embodiments of the invention, the tools 1011 include an arrow for flipping the pages of the Green Book 1010. In the presently preferred embodiments, the tools cause the pages to flip in an animation that simulates the pages of a booklet actually being flipped open.

FIGS. 12C through 12G illustrate representations of the Mini Green Book booklet with one-slide title and back pages and two-side inner pages according to some embodiments of the invention.

As will be understood by those familiar with the art, the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Likewise, the particular naming and division of the members, features, attributes, and other aspects are not mandatory or significant, and the mechanisms that implement the invention or its features may have different names, divisions and/or formats. Accordingly, the disclosure of the invention is intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the invention, which is set forth in the following Claims. 

1. A method of printing an environmentally-friendly booklet comprising: providing a processor configured for gathering content, merging content with printer capability information, automatically creating environmentally-friendly booklet impositions, and initiating print jobs, wherein said processor is operatively coupled with a display and at least one printer, and wherein said at least one printer includes a finisher; displaying a graphical user interface on said display, wherein said graphical user interface include tools for allowing a user to gather digital content; gathering digital content with said processor in response to an instruction by said user; automatically gathering printer capabilities from said at least one printer by said processor; merging gathered content and printer capabilities, thereby forming merged data; presenting a user with at least one environmentally-friendly booklet printing option based on said merged data; automatically creating a printing imposition based on the selection of said at least one environmentally-friendly booklet printing option; receiving a printing instruction from said user via said graphical user interface to print said content according to said at least one environmentally-friendly booklet printing option; printing said content according to said at least one environmentally-friendly booklet printing option on said at least one printer, wherein printing includes the steps of: printing content on sheets according to said imposition; collating printed pages according to said imposition; folding collated pages using said finisher; outputting environmentally-friendly booklet, thereby automatically reducing paper consumption.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps of displaying a graphical user interface, gathering digital content, automatically gathering printer capabilities, merging gathered content and printer capabilities, presenting a user with at least one environmentally-friendly booklet printing option, automatically creating a printing imposition, receiving a printing instruction, and printing said content are performed in a dedicated publishing application.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps of displaying a graphical user interface, gathering digital content, automatically gathering printer capabilities, merging gathered content and printer capabilities, presenting a user with at least one environmentally-friendly booklet printing option, automatically creating a printing imposition, receiving a printing instruction, and printing said content are performed in a host application by calling publishing module operatively coupled with said processor.
 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: displaying a virtual press run of said digital content on said display, said virtual press run comprising a what-you-see-is-what-you-get version of the digital content that takes into account said at least one environmentally-friendly booklet printing option, any other selected print options, and said printer capabilities.
 5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of: configuring said processor to provide said user with tools for editing said virtual press run, wherein said editing results in real-time updating of said displayed virtual press run.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising: configuring said printer to perform duplex printing; and configuring said finisher to perform post-printing actions selected from among a group of actions consisting of: stapling; hole-punching; folding; collating; and binding, wherein the step of automatically gathering printer capabilities includes gathering capabilities relating to duplex printing and post-printing capabilities.
 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising: configuring said printer to accept mixed paper stock, wherein the step of automatically gathering printer capabilities includes gathering capabilities relating to ability to print on mixed paper stock.
 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising: configuring said printer to accept mixed paper sizes, wherein the step of automatically gathering printer capabilities includes gathering capabilities relating to ability to print on mixed paper sizes.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of automatically creating a printing imposition comprises creating a template for creating an environmentally-friendly booklet comprising once-folded sheets having two imposition tiles on both sides of said sheet, substantially, equidistantly separated by an axis of folding, thereby defining booklet pages having a 1-up format.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of automatically creating a printing imposition comprises creating a template for creating an environmentally-friendly booklet comprising once-folded sheets having four imposition tiles on both sides of said sheet, wherein individual imposition tiles are substantially, equidistantly separated by an axis of folding and an axis perpendicular to an axis of folding, thereby defining booklet pages having a 2-up format.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of automatically creating a printing imposition comprises creating a template for creating an environmentally-friendly booklet comprising: a once-folded first sheet for printing a front and back booklet cover, wherein the front side of the first sheet contains two imposition tiles substantially, equidistantly separated by an axis of folding, thereby defining a front booklet cover and a back booklet cover having a 1-up format, and wherein the back side of the first sheet contains four imposition tiles substantially, equidistantly separated by an axis of folding and an axis perpendicular to an axis of folding, thereby defining inner-booklet pages having a 2-up format; and at least one additional sheet for printing inner-booklet pages, said at least one additional sheet comprises once-folded sheets having four imposition tiles on both sides of said sheet, wherein individual imposition tiles are substantially, equidistantly separated by an axis of folding and an axis perpendicular to an axis of folding, thereby defining inner-booklet pages having a 2-up format.
 12. A system for printing an environmentally-friendly booklet comprising: a client computer having a processor and a monitor, wherein the client computer is operatively coupled with at least one printer; a processing module operatively coupled to said process, wherein said publishing module is configured for gathering content, merging content with printer capability information, automatically creating environmentally-friendly booklet impositions, and initiating print jobs, wherein said processor is operatively coupled with a display and at least one printer, and wherein said at least one printer includes a finisher; wherein said monitor displays a graphical user interface comprising tools for allowing a user to gather digital content, said tools including: tools for gathering digital content with said processor in response to an instruction by said user; tools for automatically gathering printer capabilities from said at least one printer by said processor; tools for merging gathered content and printer capabilities, thereby forming merged data; tools for presenting a user with at least one environmentally-friendly booklet printing option based on said merged data; tools for automatically creating a printing imposition based on the selection of said at least one environmentally-friendly booklet printing option; tools for receiving a printing instruction from said user via said graphical user interface to print said content according to said at least one environmentally-friendly booklet printing option; tools for printing said content according to said at least one environmentally-friendly booklet printing option on said at least one printer, wherein said at least one printer is configured for printing content on sheets according to said imposition, collating printed pages according to said imposition, folding collated pages using said finisher, and outputting an environmentally-friendly booklet, thereby automatically reducing paper consumption.
 13. The system for printing an environmentally-friendly booklet of claim 12, wherein said publishing module implements its processing functions in a dedicated publishing application.
 14. The system for printing an environmentally-friendly booklet of claim 12, wherein said publishing module implements its processing functions in a host application.
 15. The system for printing an environmentally-friendly booklet of claim 12, wherein said at least one printer is configured to perform duplex printing; and wherein said finisher is configured to perform post-printing actions selected from among a group of actions consisting of: stapling; hole-punching; folding; collating; and binding, wherein the tool for automatically gathering printer capabilities includes tools for gathering capabilities relating to duplex printing and post-printing capabilities.
 16. The system for printing an environmentally-friendly booklet of claim 12, wherein said at least one printer is configured to accept mixed paper stock, wherein the tool for automatically gathering printer capabilities includes tools relating to ability to print on mixed paper stock.
 17. The system for printing an environmentally-friendly booklet of claim 12, wherein said at least one printer is configured to accept mixed paper sizes, wherein the tool for automatically gathering printer capabilities includes tools relating to ability to print on mixed paper sizes.
 18. The system for printing an environmentally-friendly booklet of claim 12, wherein said printing imposition comprises a template for creating an environmentally-friendly booklet comprising once-folded sheets having two imposition tiles on both sides of said sheet, substantially, equidistantly separated by an axis of folding, thereby defining booklet pages having a 1-up format.
 19. The system for printing an environmentally-friendly booklet of claim 12, wherein said printing imposition comprises a template for creating an environmentally-friendly booklet comprising once-folded sheets having four imposition tiles on both sides of said sheet, wherein individual imposition tiles are substantially, equidistantly separated by an axis of folding and an axis perpendicular to an axis of folding, thereby defining booklet pages having a 2-up format.
 20. The system for printing an environmentally-friendly booklet of claim 12, wherein said printing imposition comprises a template for creating an environmentally-friendly booklet comprising: a once-folded first sheet for printing a front and back booklet cover, wherein the front side of the first sheet contains two imposition tiles substantially, equidistantly separated by an axis of folding, thereby defining a front booklet cover and a back booklet cover having a 1-up format, and wherein the back side of the first sheet contains four imposition tiles substantially, equidistantly separated by an axis of folding and an axis perpendicular to an axis of folding, thereby defining inner-booklet pages having a 2-up format; and at least one additional sheet for printing inner-booklet pages, said at least one additional sheet comprises once-folded sheets having four imposition tiles on both sides of said sheet, wherein individual imposition tiles are substantially, equidistantly separated by an axis of folding and an axis perpendicular to an axis of folding, thereby defining inner-booklet pages having a 2-up format.
 21. A computer-readable medium containing executable instructions that, when executed, perform the method of claim
 1. 